what is a ezo momonga

Is the Ezo momonga a real Pokemon?

At first glance, it is easy to mistake the Ezo momonga (Pteromys volans) as a real-life Pokémon. A smaller type of the Siberian flying squirrel, the adorable mammal belongs to a species of squirrels that are native to Japan. What gives the Ezo momonga its anime-level cuteness is its relatively diminutive size and its large, expressive eyes.

Where can I see Ezo momonga in Hokkaido?

Hokkaido's ezo momonga - a Siberian flying squirrel - is easy to spot in the wild in Hokkaido, given a keen eye for poo, twiggy left-overs, and a good deal of patience. Better still, they may be closer to home than you might think. Recently, we joined Takuji, a nature guide based in the Tokachi Plains, on an early morning ezo momonga spotting tour.

What does Momonga mean in Japanese?

It lives on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. "Ezo", is another name for Hokkaido, and "momonga" means flying squirrel. So,it is a flying squirrel from Hokkaido. Click to see full answer. Also, what is a momonga?

What is the size of a Momonga?

The head and body length of P. momonga is 120 to 228 mm, and the tail length is between 108 and 127 mm. The mass of these animals has not been reported, and no sexual dimorphism has been described. Their coloration is a silvery to buffy gray on the dorsal surface, and a buffy white on the ventral surface.

Where does the Ezo momonga live?

It is native to Japan where it inhabits sub-alpine forests and boreal evergreen forests on Honshu and Kyushu islands. It grows to a length of 20 cm (8 in) and has a membrane connecting its wrists and ankles which enables it to glide from tree to tree.

Can you have a Japanese dwarf flying squirrel as a pet?

Flying squirrels are being taken from their natural habitat and sold as pets. This leads to unsafe conditions for the flying squirrels and unsafe pets for people.

Are Japanese flying squirrel endangered?

According to IUCN Red List, the Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is relatively widespread and not so common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

What do Japanese dwarf flying squirrels eat?

The species' scientific name is Pteromys momonga, and it is one among two species of the genus Pteromys. They are arboreal animals that are active during the night. During their nighttime adventures, they satiate their hunger with all types of seeds, barks, fruits, and flowers.

What is the price of flying squirrel?

A flying squirrel can be purchased from specialized breeders and the average cost is around $450, but they go up to $600 or more, and sell out quickly depending on the breeder.

Are flying squirrels the same as sugar gliders?

The main difference between these two animals is their classifications, as sugar gliders are marsupials, while flying squirrels are mammals. The size differences between a flying squirrel and sugar glider are also more extreme, and their preferred locations and habitats differ from one another as well.

What eats Japanese squirrels?

The Japanese squirrel is preyed upon by foxes, martens, crows, raptors, and domesticated cats and dogs.

What do Japanese giant flying squirrel eat?

It eats fruit and nuts and lives in holes in large trees.

How long do Japanese dwarf flying squirrels live?

5 lb (150-220 g). The tail length of a Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrel is 3.9”-5.5” (10-14 cm). Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrels have a typical lifespan of 5-7 years in the wild and up to 10-19 years in captivity.

Do flying squirrels bite?

They could potentially bite or scratch to defend themselves if they find themselves unable to run. A flying squirrel will typically glide away from danger but will be unable to do so in their attic nest. It is important if a flying squirrel is discovered to call in a professional.

What sound does a Japanese squirrel make?

What noise does a squirrel make? Japanese rodent Kumi makes a series of bizarre HOWLING sounds that resemble a creaky door being opened. A Japanese squirrel let out a series of howling sounds – and the bizarre moment was captured on camera.

Are flying squirrels Fluffy?

The flying squirrel's tail is long and fluffy but completely flat. In both species, the upper body is covered with brownish- gray fur that is as soft as velvet.

Morphology

Its body is 14–20 cm long and the tail length is 10–14 cm. It weighs 150–220 g. It is much smaller than the Japanese giant flying squirrel which can reach 1500 g. Its back is covered with grey brown hair, and its belly is white. It has large eyes and a flattened tail.

Distribution

This species of flying squirrel inhabits sub-alpine forests and boreal evergreen forests in Japan, specifically on Honshu and Kyushu islands.

Behavior

The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is nocturnal, and during the day it rests in holes in trees. It eats seeds, fruit, tree leaves, buds and bark. It can leap from tree to tree using a gliding membrane called its patagium. The patagium works as a wingsuit enabling it to maneuver and glide through the air.

Evolution

Japanese dwarf flying squirrels have evolved differently from other Sciuridae. The differences between Japanese dwarf flying squirrels and other Sciuridae is evident when comparing morphology of the mandible and genetic code.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has this species of flying squirrel listed as of Least Concern. They have an unknown population trend and number of mature individuals. The IUCN has not detected any major threats to this species. The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is found in some protected areas.

How to find momonga in Hokkaido?

How to spot momonga in the wild in Hokkaido. “The first step to finding momonga is to look for their poop, ” explained Takuji. “Trees with nests in them will have a lot of poop around the base. There’ll also be lots of pee-stains near the base too.”. Look for the poop, then look for the hole in the tree. Takuji also told us to look out ...

How to see a momonga in the wild?

The sure-bet easiest way to spot a momonga in the wild is to pay for a tour. While many people might imagine having to trek deep into the woods to see momonga, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. “Where ever there’s a large stand of old-growth trees, there’ll be momonga,” explained Takuji.

What happened to the momonga tree?

After a few more gawks at the strange humans, it disappeared into an impossibly small hole in the tree. Not long after, a second momonga careened down from the canopy towards us.

Is there a momonga in the canopy?

Now, there was one lone momonga left in the canopy, still having one last chew on the twiggy morsels. Eventually, it too flew down to a lower height, did a poo, and then finally off to another nest somewhere further on in the thicket. Yes, that is a momonga doing it’s business.

Ezo Momonga

The adorable Ezo Momonga is a type of flying squirrel unique to Hokkaido. Its huge, dark eyes and little paws are so cute that it has become a local mascot of sorts, appearing on the regional railway’s refillable ticket cards.

Shima-Enaga

The Shima-Enaga is a type of long-tailed tit that lives only in Hokkaido. Unlike the Northern long-tailed tits in the rest of Japan, this one doesn’t have brown “eyebrows” – its face is completely white.

Hokkaido red fox

The Hokkaido red fox is simply a sub-species of the common red fox, but we really love foxes, so we won’t miss the opportunity to post a few more photos of these adorable animals.

Hokkaido red squirrel

The Eurasian red squirrel is spread far and wide throughout Asia and Europe, but Hokkaido has its own subspecies and is the only place in Japan where these squirrels can be found.

Ezo Naki Usagi

The Hokkaido crying rabbit, or Ezo Naki Usagi, is a local subspecies of the Northern Pika, an adorably round animal that lives throughout northern Japan and northern Asia. It is said that this adorable critter was the inspiration for Pikachu, possibly everyone’s favorite Pokemon.

Iizuna

The Lizuna, or least weasel, belongs to a sub-species of wildlife that prefers the northern climates of Hokkaido, Siberia, and northern Scandinavia. Unlike some other least weasels, this subspecies’ coat turns white to camouflage it in the winter.

Ezo Fukuro

The Ezo Fukuro is a local sub-species of the Ural Owl. Unfortunately, these guys probably love to feed on some of the other cute animals in this post!

Distribution

Native and endemic to japan, this rodent inhabits Honshu and Kyushu Islands of the country. The preferred habitat of the Japanese flying squirrel is boreal evergreen forest.

Habits and Lifestyle

Japanese flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal creatures that spend their daytime hours in their nests or in tree holes, coming out of their shelters only at dusk. These rodents are silent gliders and move quickly among tops of trees in order to escape potential predators.

Diet and Nutrition

The Japanese flying squirrels are herbivores (frugivores, granivores and lignivores), they generally feed upon nuts, pine seeds, buds, tree bark and fruits, supplementing this diet with occasional insects.

Mating Habits

There is no information on reproductive system of these rodents, but a male and a female are known to live together in the same nest. Mating occurs twice a year, usually from May to July. Gestation period lasts about 4 weeks, yielding 2 - 3 young on average, sometimes up to 5 per litter.

Fun Facts for Kids

Japanese dwarf flying squirrels eat in an unusual way, usually hanging upside down a twig or branch when chewing their meal. In this position, they stretch their bodies and reach out to whichever item is accessible, instead of moving around to find food.

Geographic Range

Pteromys momonga, also known as the Japanese flying squirrel, is found on Honshu and Kyushu Islands. ( Nowak, 1999)

Habitat

The habitat of this species consists of boreal evergreen forests. On a smaller spatial scale, they locate their nests (composed of moss or lichen) at the junction of a branch and the trunk of a tree, particularly pine or spruce. ( Nowak, 1999)

Physical Description

The head and body length of P. momonga is 120 to 228 mm, and the tail length is between 108 and 127 mm. The mass of these animals has not been reported, and no sexual dimorphism has been described. Their coloration is a silvery to buffy gray on the dorsal surface, and a buffy white on the ventral surface.

Development

No species-specific development information is available, but the following is a general pattern in flying squirrels. The young squirrel is naked at birth, with blood vessels and internal organs visible through the skin. The pup is born completley helpless, relying on its mother for food.

Behavior

Japanese flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal and silent in flight. They rarely remain on the ground, instead spending their time in the trees. During the day, these animals can be found in their nests or in a hole in trees. They emerge at dusk, moving quickly about the treetops. This is probably a predator-avoidance adaptation.

Communication and Perception

Data on ccommunication in P. momonga is lacking, but this species probably relies mainly on vocal communication, such as chittering noises. This would make them like other flying squirrels.

Food Habits

The diet of Japanese flying squirrels consists of nuts, pine seeds, the buds and bark of certain trees, fruits, and probably some insects. Their forepaws may play only a supplemental role in holding food, which was exhibited by a study done using bait to observe how the species eats in comparison to others.

Overview

Morphology

Distribution

Behavior

Evolution

Conservation Status